Old Hollywood Hairstyles That Look Incredibly Glamorous On Long Hair

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The trend around old Hollywood hairstyles proves that classic hairstyles are still coveted today, especially for those with long hair. Soft, glamorous curls ruled the day and still do. Side parts were the norm, and these stunning hairstyles added charm and sparkle to the sirens of old Hollywood. While a simple, functional hairstyle might be easy for everyday wear, leaning on a touch of old Hollywood glamour for special occasions adds an extra sprinkle of beauty.

These stars used various techniques to achieve their gorgeous hairstyles, and thankfully they are all relatively simple to recreate on long hair. Many social media divas have shared their wealth of tips online, and the internet is bursting with DIY tutorials to achieve these glamorous, old-school looks. And with such a range of looks, even old Hollywood hairstyles that are perfect for older women to try, there's something for everyone. Taylor Swift even co-signed the return of glamorous, pinned-back old Hollywood hair with her own beautiful hairstyle. With so many stunning looks to create, let's dive into old Hollywood hairstyles for long hair. 

A siren of old Hollywood glamour, Rita Hayworth had some of the era's most iconic hairstyles. She used pin curls to achieve her voluminous curls, which is a very easy look to recreate. Take small sections of freshly washed hair — it's okay if it's slightly damp but mustn't be too wet or the curls won't hold — and, starting at the ends, wrap the hair around two fingers until you reach the scalp. Flatten the coil against the head and secure with a bobby pin or a sectioning clip, and repeat this all over the head. To give the curls time to set, either do it at night and sleep on them or give them a few hours to set. For a faster set, curl one-inch sections of hair with a curling wand and set with pins. Give the hair 15-30 minutes to set when using heat. 

Hayworth relied on another simple home hair care hack to achieve that lustrous shine: she used olive oil. "Besides Hayworth's gorgeous hair, her method of maintaining it was something you could DIY with an item found in your kitchen, making her look much more accessible than the average Hollywood starlet's," Connecticut hairstylist and salon owner Michelle Jacoby told Women's World. Hayworth applied olive oil to wet hair after shampooing, then wrapped it in a towel for 15 minutes. Then she rinsed it with hot water and lemon juice. 

Veronica Lake had her own unique Hollywood hairstyle. She wore her long hair in loose, soft waves. Like Rita Hayworth, Lake loved a sweeping side part to add volume and drama to her look. Lake's gorgeous hair is timeless, and thankfully it's relatively easy to recreate with foam rollers.

Start with almost completely dried hair. If hair is totally dry, lightly mist it with water to help the curl hold. Then apply a setting lotion or mousse to secure the curl. Part hair in a dramatic side part; taking small sections of hair, roll the ends of the hair neatly under the foam roller, winding up to the scalp with a comfortable amount of tension. Curl the foam rollers with the side part in mind. This adds that targeted volume that makes Lake's look so unforgettable. You can sleep in your foam rollers or add some heat to speed up the process by using either a blow dryer or a bonnet dryer. 

Once hair is completely dry, remove the foam rollers and gently brush out the curls. To achieve that signature wave right by Lake's eye, comb the hair at the scalp and shape the wave, securing it with a flat styling clip. Apply a healthy amount of hairspray and let the styling clip stay put until the hair has taken shape. Then remove the clip and rock that old-school Hollywood magic.

Sophia Loren, an Italian bombshell of old Hollywood, had the best hair. Her thick, full-volume curls radiated sex appeal and high glamour. Everything about Loren was sensual. Even Loren's spa-night advice centered on self-care, so the Mediterranean beauty knew how to pamper herself. This included a fabulous hairdo. 

On TikTok, Geena Hunt gave a useful tutorial on achieving those bouncy, high-volume curls that made stars like Loren so iconic. As usual, the touch of glamour comes from a side part. Using a curling wand on dry hair, Hunt curled her hair in small sections, starting at the roots. She then pinned the coils close to her scalp and let them cool. Once cooled, Hunt removed the pins and gently brushed the hair using a soft oval brush. She applied hairspray directly to the brush as she combed out her curls.

Creating S-shapes with the curls, Hunt used flat styling clips on the length of hair around her face to add that distinct Hollywood look. She also lifted a section of hair along the length of the side part and curled it back with her finger, securing it with one more styling clip to get that distinct Loren lift around her face. Taking a clean makeup brush, Hunt sprayed that with hairspray and gently brushed along the styling clips and also brushed down any flyaway hairs. Then she removed the clips and slayed.  

Old Hollywood icon Dorothy Malone famously used French hair combs to elegantly pull back her curls and add some decadence to her hair. In fact, many Hollywood sirens used French combs, from Marilyn Monroe to Ida Lupino to Lana Turner. All of these divas utilized the easy lift and volume created by the simple little combs. 

With so many vintage hairstyles coming back, TikTok is full of useful tutorials on how to use these vintage hair pieces. If you don't already have French combs, grab a pack of two in a pretty tortoise shell shade. TikToker Chloe Rose gave a quick tutorial. Start by parting your hair. Grab one side and gently comb back the face-framing section of your hair. Backcomb it for volume then lightly twist the strand of hair. Once it's twisted near the scalp, take the comb and gently comb it through the hair with the curved part of the comb facing away from the head. 

Once you've caught a little hair, flip the comb around so that the curve of the comb sits comfortably on the curve of your head. Push it firmly inward to lock the hair in place. Repeat this on the other side for an easy, old Hollywood style that looks great and keeps your hair out of your face when you're on the go.